author of “Pictures Loquentes, or Pictures drawn forth in Characters.  With a Poeme of a Maid” The poem of a Maid was, of course, suggested by the fact that Sir Thomas Overbury’s Characters had joined to them the poem of a Wife.  There was a second edition in 1635.  Saltonstall’s Characters were the World, an Old Man, a Woman, a Widow, a True Lover, a Country Bride, a Ploughman, a Melancholy Man, a Young Heir, a Scholar in the University, a Lawyers Clerk, a Townsman in Oxford, an Usurer, a Wandering Rogue, a Waterman, a Shepherd, a Jealous Man, a Chamberlain, a Maid, a Bailey, a Country Fair, a Country Ale-house, a Horse Race, a Farmer’s Daughter, a Keeper, a Gentleman’s House in the Country; to which he added in the second edition, a Fine Dame, a Country Dame, a Gardener, a Captain, a Poor Village, a Merry Man, a Scrivener, the Term, a Mower, a Happy Man, an Arrant Knave, and an Old Waiting Gentlewoman.  This is one of his Characters as quoted by Philip Bliss in the Appendix to his edition of Earle—­

THE TERM

Is a time when Justice keeps open court for all comers, while her sister Equity strives to mitigate the rigour of her positive sentence.  It is called the term, because it does end and terminate business, or else because it is the Terminus ad quem, that is, the end of the countryman’s journey, who comes up to the term, and with his hobnail shoes grinds the faces of the poor stones, and so returns again.  It is the soul of the year, and makes it quick, which before was dead.  Innkeepers gape for it as earnestly as shell-fish do for salt water after a low ebb.  It sends forth new books into the world, and replenishes Paul’s Walk with fresh company, where Quid novi? is their first salutation, and the weekly news their chief discourse.  The taverns are painted against the term, and many a cause is argued there and tried at that bar, where you are adjudged to pay the costs and charges, and so dismissed with “welcome, gentlemen.”  Now the city puts her best side outward, and a new play at the Blackfriars is attended on with coaches.  It keeps watermen from sinking, and helps them with many a fare voyage to Westminster.  Tour choice beauties come up to it only to see and be seen, and to learn the newest fashion, and for some other recreations.  Now many that have been long sick and crazy begins to stir and walk abroad, especially if some young prodigals come to town, who bring more money than wit.  Lastly, the term is the joy of the city, a dear friend to countrymen, and is never more welcome than after a long vacation.

We have also, in 1632, “London and Country Carbonadoed and Quartered into Several Characters” by Donald Lupton; in 1633, the “Character of a Gentleman” appended to Brathwaif’s “English Gentleman;” in 1634, “A strange Metamorphosis of Man, transformed into a Wilderness, Deciphered in Characters” of which this is a specimen:—­